The Perfect Gift: Sharing Your Child's Artwork!

As artwork continues to be uploaded to this online gallery of children's artwork, it is important to remember ArtSonia during the upcoming holiday season.  This website offers a lot of unique gifts perfect for the holidays.  I hope that you keep this site in mind as you think about gifts for those people on your list who can be difficult to shop for.  There is nothing more special than your child's artwork!  Purchasing items from this site also helps to support our art program here at Coopersville with a portion of the proceeds. 

Thank you for your support and continuing to encourage your child's artwork. 

It's ArtPrize Season!!!

It's that time of year for ArtPrize 2011!  I am encouraging all families to go see the wonderful artwork displayed throughout downtown Grand Rapids.  This is a free event and runs through October 10!  Click on the picture for more ArtPrize details.

http://www.artprize.org/

WELCOME BACK!

I'm so excited for another school year to begin. 
The beginning of a new year is a great time to remind us why art is so important for our children. 
Here are 20 great reasons from the Museum of Children's Art in Oakland, CA. 

1. Art stimulates both sides of the brain.
2. 33% of kids are visual learners.
3. There are studies that show that kids, who make art, read better and get better grades in science and mathematics.
4. The kids learn by using their senses and art is ideal in this process
5. The kids need a place to express themselves at school.
6. Art promotes self esteem
7. Art encourages kids to give more attention to the physical space that surround them.
8. Art develops hand and eye coordination.
9. Art stimulates perception.
10. Art teaches them to think openly. It represents a culture of questioners more than a culture of responders.
11. Art teaches that there is more than one solution for a problem.
12. Art teaches kids to think creatively to solve problems.
13. Kids can share and reflect on their work of art and learn something about the world they live in.
14. When art is integrated with the other subjects in the curriculum, kids commit more to the learning process.
15. In the process of doing art, the child is exposed to different possibilities, to discover and to freedom, this way they avoid falling into the control and the predictability of the conventional education in the United States of today.
16. Art nourishes the human soul. One feels good doing it.
17. Art brings the cultural resources of the community into the class.
18. Art involves parents and tutors in the school, inviting them to participate as volunteers in diverse activities.
19. Art provides a common ground across racial stereotypes, barriers and prejudices.
20. Art is valuable all by itself.

Kendall College Summer Opportunities

Looking for an opportunity for your young artist this summer?

Kendall College of Art and Design offers a variety of wonderful summer classes in a variety of media. 

For information visit their website: www.kcad.edu/youth-and-adults! 

First Grade Texture Lizards

Are Published on Artsonia!!!

Visit www.artsonia.com!!!

     Artsonia is an online student art gallery that shows off our student talent nationally!  You may search using a student's screen name or may search Coopersville to view all artwork by school.  Once online, parents should be sure to register their child so that they may recieve comments about their artwork.  You can also become a fan of student art and purchase gifts to help our art program.  Be sure to leave a comment for your favorite artist!

Art ROCKS!!!

     Fourth graders are learning about design by creating a cool guitar.  We talked about how it is the job of a designer to come up with new and innovative designs to make people want to buy their creations.  They created a new guitar to help keep our imaginary guitar store open.  It needed to include all of the parts to make it look like a working guitar.  Fourth graders are loving this project!!!

Parent Teacher Conference Schedule

I will be available for conferences on these dates:

Monday February 21:
     East Elementary 3:40-5:00
     South Elementary 5:00-7:10

Tuesday February 22:
     East Elementary 3:40-4:30
     South Elementary 4:30-6:10

Wednesday February 23:
     South Elementary 3:40-4:40